About me - Mark Poulton

Having always rebelled against authority while at school Punch & Judy seemed perfect for me. When I first turned full-time I quickly learnt that I wouldn´t be content with just one set of puppets, booth and story line.
I started thinking about new puppets to make and new routines to master. The look of my show itself has changed and keeps on changing. Punch & Judy have always evolved as does the world we live in. Throughout the history of Punch & Judy there have been changes made to fit in with the surroundings and way of life.
It is often said there are two types of Punch performances, the Traditional and the Revival. I would like to think that I fit in to the latter category.
My show has been seen at many different places from, birthday parties to the Millennium Dome. Although I do still perform at birthday parties, my style of show is better suited to larger events where there are as many adults in the audience as children.
I tailor my show to the audience in front of me. The under fives prefer a visual show, older children and adults expect good manipulation with clever routines and a fast story line. I can perform the show, with or without audience participation ,and only use the hanging scene in my recreation of a Victorian busking show, which is quite different to the show that I am well known for performing.
My show has been featured in both national and local press and radio. I have also been filmed for many television shows including: The Time, The Place, Disney, Road Hog, Channel 5s Beachcomber Bay, The Pig Attraction (with Simon Buckley) and The Holiday Programme , to name but a few.
Photos of the show have also been used in various magazines, books and holiday guides. (One year according to the holiday guides, I was showing at Weston, Broadstairs and Newquay. Although I actually was on Goodrington Sands, I was not mentioned in the Torbay guide)!
I also visit organisations to talk on puppets and present exhibitions.